Driver arrested on DUI-fourth

A Summerville man with multiple DUI convictions on his record has been arrested yet again for drunken driving.

Thomas Jesse Holt III, 44, of Chucker Drive, was arrested for fourth-offense DUI, along with open container of beer and driving under suspension for DUI, after a traffic stop in Newington Plantation Aug. 13.

Based on Holt’s record for the last 10 years, which includes DUI convictions in 2006, 2011 and 2012, the arresting officer cited him for DUI fourth offense.

Holt’s arrest record and court records indicate problems going much further back than 2006, however.

His first DUI conviction appears to date to 2000, when he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, second offense, for a 1999 traffic stop.

He also has convictions for simple assault, larceny, simple possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct.

A Thomas J. Holt III, with the same year of birth, also has a reckless homicide conviction from 1990, for which he received five years suspended. The charge indicates the victim died within one year of the accident that caused the injuries.

In the Aug. 13 incident, a Summerville officer spotted him drifting out of his lane on Luden Drive around 7:15 p.m., according to an incident report.

According to the report, Holt continued driving after the officer activated his blue lights, then when the officer turned on his siren, Holt started pointing his arm out the window but still didn’t stop.

Instead, according to the report, he continued drifting and almost hit a car in the opposite lane.

Holt finally stopped his car in the middle of the road, at the intersection of King Charles Circle and Axtel Drive, according to the report.

The officer reported Holt was “slow and lethargic” and the car smelled strongly of beer. There was an open, half-empty 40-ounce bottle of beer in the passenger seat, the officer reported. Holt then told the officer his license was suspended for DUI, according to the report.

The officer conducted several field sobriety tests and reported Holt failed the “gaze” test.

The officer then gave Holt the “walk and turn” test.

After the test, the officer asked Holt how he thought he did.

“Holt responded, ‘Sir I failed, I know I did.’ The conclusion was indeed correct that Holt had miserably failed this test,” the officer wrote.

The officer reported Holt also failed the “one-leg stand” test.

Holt was taken to the police department, where he refused a breath test, according to the report.

Holt faces a prison term of one to five years if convicted. A fourth offense also requires a lifetime installation of an ignition interlock device.

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